Lately I’ve had several people mention that meditation is not their ‘thing’ (as my Gram would have said, not her cuppa tea). And thinking back, I was one of them. Just 8 years ago, I couldn’t sit still in a quiet room longer than five minutes without bolting, trying to find something to do. It wasn’t so much about ‘keeping busy’, but about needing to fulfill the to-do list in my head before I’d lose time and not get my ‘work’ done. Has that ever happened to you?

How do you turn off the noise in your head to just let the silence surround you without feeling guilt about not doing ‘anything’? Yes, it takes practice. There are some who find it easier than others; heaven knows why that is. But each of us is able to learn how to practice some form of meditation or find quietude if we allow ourselves to make space.

So is making space for quietude like fulfilling a recipe to bake a cake? Can we identify a list of ingredients to make this happen? Let’s try. Over time your ingredients might change, morph, expand, contract. Like any good recipe, improvement comes over time. Let yourself be open to the possibilities.

Let’s start with your own mind. To me, this is the #1 issue. The brain is full of stuff – ideas, thoughts, dreams; then are are the worries, frustrations, distractions. Usually it’s the negative issues that cause us the greatest anxiety, wouldn’t you say? Hard to turn off the mind if the neurological system is running on overdrive. To do this, you really have to WANT it. Once or twice a week, CONSISTENTLY. Remember the adage: First it’s a thought. Then it’s a thing. [Someone had to think about how to put light into a dark room. Then the mind helped bring about the development of the light bulb, right?] You can do this — it just takes a little forethought. Be WILLING to set aside a time without distractions — the kids, pets, people, jobwork, dishes, bills…you get the picture. So do that. Just PICTURE YOURSELF sitting in a quiet space without all that other stuff.

Next: Healthy body. Well, daah! Of course I’m healthy (you may be saying). But are you really?

2 simple things — water and fresh/raw. To keep the body filled with decent levels of nutrients, enzymes and minerals especially, we need fresh fruits and vegetables daily. And water – clean, higher alkaline water that can hydrate the cells as well as flush out toxins – is necessary to help us think. Rule of thumb: One-half your body weight in ounces. If our physiology isn’t functioning at least at baseline levels, how will we ever be able to give the higher energy of meditation enough room to expand further?

Exercise – of course! Not jumping jacks, but other forms — light walking, biking, swimming, or maybe yoga, qigong, tai chi. Movement, in other words. Let the body release its excess energy through a positive form of exercise that works for your particular level of needs. As you do this, you may start noticing changes in how you think about things throughout the day, and the influence of physical release on mental capacities.

Lifestyle enhancements also ready the body for inner work. Massage, energy work of some sort (my lifesaver is Reiki and there are many others), Raindrop Technique and Neuro Auricular Technique all have proven to be useful in relieving physical ailments. And when we’re not sensing “pain”, it’s easier to focus on mind-work.

Outside influences: Choosing your environment.

In or Out? If your an indoor-kinda-person, which room of your house is best suited, most comfortable, least-distracting? Should you prefer green space, where outside is best for you – the bench in the backyard, an early morning beach run, up the hiking trail? You know your most favorite spot…go there, or if it’s not feasible, find a realistic alternate and let your mind take you there.

Sound. Not the head-banger stuff now…find quiet, relaxing Zen-type sound that resonates with you. Try YouTube just to search for the various sounds that connect you to the moment. Your aim, after all, is to be JUST IN THIS MOMENT. Look up meditation or Reiki or peaceful as search words. For those into energy work, find selections with healing frequencies. You’ll be surprised by the choices.

Odors. Fresh scents from the lake or ocean, being in the outdoors, the smell of the trees or flowers. These all add to the ambiance of quietude. Our sense are heightened, and the physiological response can be relaxation, de-stressing of the muscles, releasing of the nervous system tension. If you have a good grade of pure essential oils, use them. Research the ones that enhance the mind, and the upper chakras. For example, frankincense, cedarwood, lavender. Blends might include lemon, rosemary, or even eucalyptus. Caveat: stay away from all scents that are artificial or have chemical ingredients. You don’t want to clog the neural pathways you’re trying to clear.

Now You’re Ready.

Your space is ready, all things are prepared – you’re asking yourself, ‘How do I begin?’

Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths. Let it all out. Wiggle your tuchie into your sitz-space; be comfy.

Ask yourself: If I could shift just one thing in my life right now, just one, what would it be?

Now, just let that settle. Don’t think. Just stay in the moment. Allow yourself to notice the scents that surround you. The sounds that are penetrating your space. The ideas that come from your question – well, don’t really ‘think’ about them, just let them flow. Emotions as well. It’s all like the waves, ebbing and flowing, moving in and out like the tide. Just be.

When you’re done, you’ll know it. In the beginning your quietude may be but 2 minutes. Over time, it will lengthen, and the benefits will multiply.

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

This quote has been attributed to the likes of C. S. Lewis, Zig Ziglar, Carl Bard, James R. Sherman, and several others. Whomever said it, I can appreciate the concept.

Do you feel the level and degree of emotional angst that the speaker may have been feeling, wishing s/he could start (something) again? Does it dreg up regret, guilt, thoughts of unforgiveness or something else, as you ponder the need to begin again? I’ve come across something that can help with all this, and it makes it so much easier to get off the gerbil’s wheel and begin tracking good terrain again.

Whatever we did in the past that we wish to have as a do-over, there certainly are options. Of course, it may depend on our willingness to deal with the stuff of life that we’ve stuffed aside or suppressed for whatever reason. In other words, it takes some work.

Questions that have crossed my mind since reading the quote: Can we speak to our dead ancestors and say we’re sorry. What fork in the road got taken when the other should’ve been chosen. Would the lessons of our choices have made any difference in our ultimate happiness or satisfaction with life today; or rather, would the lessons have been the same had different choices been made. Sometimes it feels like the questions can go on into infinity. Again, that’s just faulty perception.

Reminder: the beginning IS wherever we are right now, at this moment in time. Having been a conventional thinker most of my life, sometimes a naive one at that, it’s been almost an out-of-the-body experience as I have been asking myself lately: What have you got to lose? Or, as a friend puts it: So what?

That is not said lightly, in bad humor, with sarcasm or lack of compassion. It’s said with a clearer view, an almost fatalistic understanding that our 3-dimensional world keeps us hammered inside a little box; that limited thinking keeps us bottled up, unable to imagine the multitude of possibilities surrounding us at any one time. And in this new world, the options have widened, haven’t they? We don’t have scarcity here…but abundance. There are not fewer, but millions more choices!

Starting where you are might mean you crossed some bridges and made apologies to get to the place where you are now ready to step into a different ending. Creating a new starting point, right now, could help you realize you’ve been viewing your life as constrained when in truth, it can now become as open and free of encumbrances than ever imagined!

How to begin?

There’s a method for helping to clear the blocks, to get off the emotional roller coaster, to release the gut-wrenching feelings that knuckle us under when we think about (all this) again. It is called The Aroma Freedom Technique™ (AFT). Anyone can learn to do it for themselves. People who want can be coached through a simple process of releasing that “stuff”; as a certified AFT practitioner, I can help you. And yes, your AFT work will most certainly change your ending too.

To learn more, begin with a quick look at the tab for AFT on this site. Then, arrange a 15-minute free consultation via Zoom or telephone to arm yourself with the basic information you need. If you live in the Sarasota, Florida area, join me for a free lecture on June 2 — check the events page on this website for details. Ready? The beginning is now…Let’s go!

Yesterday was the funeral of D. Gary Young. I never met the man. But his impact on my life has been, well, what is a word that is the opposite of traumatic? all encompassing, in a good way? So hearing the stories of his life from the perspective of people who did get to know and grow close to Gary over time was an amazing experience in itself. He was truly a genuine human being. In love with life, and people, and this singular Earth. The company he founded is a gift to me, because it’s given me the stuff of life to help me stay well, on all levels. He was an incredible teacher and definitely a lover of all of life.

Simulcast funeral attendance – having done that for presidents and royalty and popes is one thing. But to watch the passing of someone having such a personal impact on my life was just like being there…so I honored the almost 3-hours and participated as if I were in the audience. Not sure how many were actually at the farm, but online it was said about 100,000 people focused their eyes on the proceedings. I stood when they were asked to stand, sang in my head when that was done.

I feel a deep connection to the reality this one man envisioned and then with the help of his wife and team gifted to our world by showing us how to embody a wholesome life style, to use the raw earth and the abundant plant life to sustain ourselves. Could he have imagined that in just 25 yrs there’d be 16 farms around the world and over 500 products? Or that the pioneering research he began in the 90’s would result in his being labeled the founder of modern day aromatherapy? I didn’t know that before him, essential oils were only used in their basic diluted and chemical-laden form for the perfume industry. Hearing the story from the Frenchman with whom it all began, well I was riveted to the screen at that point.

Gary Young was a man of God and in relationship with everyone he met. He seemed to draw every breath in gratitude, at least that was my interpretation while listening to the speeches yesterday. He lived with this motto: Wellness, Purpose, Abundance. It has been modeled on all levels, for and with everyone. And just thinking about it reminds me once again, what are we here for? And how can we make a difference? How do we say thank you to the world ~ by giving of our time and money to an organization such as the Young Living Foundation that builds relationships and creates peace? or in some very unique way that we will call our own as we step out on a new platform?.

Just one man. Yep, and a ‘cowboy’ at that according to his many friends. And yet a pioneer…and maybe even a giant. Grateful? Yes, I Am.

As tonight turns into morning, we move into the wee hours of March 20, the spring (vernal) equinox begins. Normally, this time would pass, and it would be nothing special, no extraordinary ah-ha moment….just a simple acknowledgement that the season is changing.

True enough, but this time I started questioning, what is it all about anyway? While researching in preparation for an online healing session this weekend, the question is — how should I set my intentions for the group? What would be the most helpful focal point given the subject?

Then it happened. No doubt you’ve done this too — while working on one thing, the process jostled your memories and, like me, realigned your thinking in ways you hadn’t imagined or even considered relevant. Thoughts of new beginnings, renewal, spiritual awakening, and cosmic awareness – that’s the line of thought we are presenting.

Just then, an article passes my view about the “tiny” houses about which many are gaga. The summary idea was, would they be a blessing or a hindrance to simple living? I’ve been a fan of downsizing, so this interests me.

But as it would happen I can’t hold the thought. Instead, a childhood memory surfaces. “The Little House” we called it. At one point in its life it was merely the back shed, used for storage behind “the big house” where my great- and grand-parents lived. Surrounding it often was a flower or vegetable garden, and finally grapevines.

Really it had been used many times by different members of the family, various uncles and wives. What I remember best was when my Aunt Sandy lived there with Uncle Billy. They were newlyweds at 19 & 21, though together five years already. I was just a baby while they enjoyed their teen years, yet they took me everywhere when I was around.

So it was no surprise that whenever I visited, it was common to spend at least one night down at the Little House with them. The 55-gallon drum-turned-trash-bin burning regularly just 10 feet to the side of its only door. Windows on but two sides of the wooden 2-room let in just enough light.

Plumbing for the kitchen sink only, running double duty as a lavatory wash-up; step outside please, 30 steps to the outhouse it was. Closet? Only one, a pantry of sorts for the barely-galley kitchen, room enough there for a table and a few chairs. The living room served a dual purpose, sleeping quarters by night as the sofa bed was converted for my favorite couple. They’d bring in the lawn chair-turned-bed for me, filled with blankets and pillows (no feathers allowed) in what little walk-around space was left in the kitchen. “Tiny House” indeed!

And yet, such marvelous times. Cartoons on Saturday morning, of course. And, while Lawrence Welk was playing on the B&W up in the big house. Uncle preferred Sci-Fi down below, and it’s no wonder I was a nail biter ‘til I was 21! TV and popcorn before bed made it worthwhile.

From here launched weekends at Seaside, the stock car races with Star 7, and vacations with everyone piled in. Memories of my bicycle and peddle-car going up and down the driveway from roadside to back yard, running laps for hours to keep amused. Playing with the ducks and chickens from the coop out back. Helping Gram in the flower garden, and listening to Great Gram hum her Hungarian tunes. Standing on the swing crossbars, yelling “honk-honk” to the passing truck drivers flying by on the New Jersey Turnpike just over the back fence.

Digressing…reminiscing…realizing what this ruminating is all about. Spring brings another opportunity to begin again. To see what’s gone past and set my sights forward, renewing my awareness on possibilities of growth, in whatever form they may come. What difference if the story line took place 50 years ago or yesterday? Or which continent one lives? Whether there are 100 pesos in the bank or a million? Living in a Little House or a big one?

As the day grows long, looking inside ourselves and taking advantage of the relationships and memories that present themselves — these are the things from which we might form a lifetime of joy. It’s our choice.

As our 2016 spring equinox begins…well, time will tell what comes next. The cycle of life continues after all.

This question is one of the most frequently asked by people readying for their energy session – What do I have to do?

It is very easy for we practitioners to say “nothing, just enjoy”. For a receiver who has experienced many healing sessions, that simple response is perfect. However, whenever a person new to energy work comes to the table, it’s much better to elaborate and allow them to experience the full benefit. And that benefit each person receives is, after all, the primary goal.

When a practitioner explains the expectations, it also affords the receiver to better understand the energy worker and appreciate the care they will be given. The expression through words of benefits and expectations allows each person to be on the ‘same page’, helping to eliminate any worries or doubts about a new process the recipient is going to experience.

The basic purpose of most of the alternative health modalities is to help each person relieve stress and discover and release the energetic blockages, which results in balancing the energies while assisting in the process of self-healing. One may learn many other things during each session, yet ultimately, feeling better is the primary goal.

It matters not which type of healing modality is being applied. In my office it can be the application of essential oils, use of the BioMat and crystals, relieving energy stressors with quantum biofeedback and various forms of Reiki. It is all subtle energy being applied, so the same concept follows.

Consider these things as you prepare —

BEFORE a Session

Be aware of your own needs (as much as possible). Is your issue physical, mental, emotional or spiritual? If you don’t know, be willing to say that. Your higher self knows. Sometimes by doing energy work, your conscious and subconscious minds will begin to connect, giving you greater insight and self-realization.

State your intention. Know what you are hoping to accomplish by receiving the work. For some it might be general stress relief from work or home concerns. Others have a desire to change their lives in some way, new job, marriage, etc. Physical healing is a typical desire.

Create a positive affirmation to build upon that intent and motivate you moving forward.

These may be written from a personal vantage point, or you could use an overall perspective. The idea is to use only POSITIVE words. Eliminate words like no, not, cannot, do not, will not, etc. Examples:

I am pain and cancer-free. I find joy in life every day.

I release all worry and anger to live peacefully.

Goodness and plenty and wisdom come to me naturally as I move forward in this new job.

Abundance on all levels is mine daily, and I use it to help others in this world.

I release all desire as I live happily into the present moment each and every day.

As you enter the healing space, be aware of the elements around you – candles, crystals, pictures, music, fountains, bells. Many methods may be employed in the healing space to assist you in being at peace.

Share as much information as necessary and then just relax. By consciously giving yourself permission to release worry and anger (in particular), you may naturally start to release your stress.

DURING a Session

Physically, the most common feeling is that of falling asleep. Many feel a warmth as the energy works; others, cold or a tingling sensations. Gurgling and sounds may rise from your stomach. Leg or arm twitching is possible.

You may sense yourself in and out of conscious thought. Your mind may grab hold of any one thought and begin to awaken.This is a form of clearing. Let your mind float in those moments. Attachment to these is unnecessary.

Some say they feel angels carrying them or talking to them. This is all normal as you connect to your super-conscious self through energy balancing.

You hear your practitioner talking to you – just respond, even if it feels like you’re in a dream. S/he will continue the work until the session is complete.

AFTER a Session

As you open your eyes into awareness, arise and step off the table slowly. Become aware of the space you are in. Depending on the type of work you received, you may need to find your balance.

If you’ve had an emotional response to the session, embrace it. Crying, for example, is a common expression of the energy shift for males and females, adults and children alike. This is a method of release, letting go of the internal stress that has a capacity to cause pain and dis-ease.

Many subtle energy modalities create a natural benefit of detoxification within your physical self, eliminating toxins, excess fluids, etc. You may need to visit the bathroom more frequently. Be sure to drink more water than normal in the first 24-48 hours afterward – rehydrate your energy centers!

Some people enjoy journaling their experience, learning more about themselves as they continue their healing journey. Those who do oftentimes find their shift on any level (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) may manifest more quickly as they re-read and recall their progress over time.

***

Ongoing work with energy is said to have many benefits – that’s another blog posting in itself. Just relax, enjoy and always, always continue to ask questions and feel the blessing of living in the present moment enjoying all life has to offer.

Everyone knows that changes are always manifesting themselves, and it’s very true for me at this time. Yesterday was the last day in the last week that the doors of Clinica de la Luz welcomed clients in Chile. The next stop in my life adventure with my husband will bring us to a community just north of Dallas, Texas for about a year. From there, your guess is as good as mine. So I am taking a bit of personal license in sharing a few thoughts with you.

Physically moving to a country in South America was quite an awakening to my senses, and these last 33 months have been life-changing on many levels mentally and emotionally as well. Learning the customs of the land as well as the language (especially slang and the frequent jokes) were often challenging. Yet, the greatest gift I’ve received has been in knowing the people.

Whether I interacted with friends or clients, the most heart-warming aspect of this time has been the warmth and hospitality of each one, their willingness to overlook my lack of proper language skills, and their forbearance with my customs (often so different from their own). When I started my energy practice early in 2012, new clients came and several have turned into life-long friends.

Two years ago I began teaching Reiki, and have been extremely grateful to welcome 20 students over that time. Their thirst for knowledge and desire to create greater wellbeing in themselves and others has been noteworthy and in a couple instances, profound; their marvel at the sensations of Reiki energy felt during times of group sharing, remarkable. My success in the role of teacher was solely due to the caring and helping hands of two wonderful women, without whose organization and translation assistance would not have been possible. I’ll be forever grateful to Leticia Cataldo and Betty Yangari.

I’ve been wondering what my purpose here has been, and lately it’s come to me that we — these wonderful people and I — share it jointly: it has been about compassion. Learning how to interact with others who on the surface appear unlike ourselves is often a fearful prospect. While I’ve given them opportunities to learn more about North American ways, they’ve granted me a look into their home and personal lives as if I were family. What a blessing, that openness showed at a meal, hospitality during a holiday and even during a family member’s death. There are no words to adequately describe feelings for those times.

Now, as I move forward and continue my work back in the USA again, it’s time to update this website and its name. To better reflect the reality of energy-related healing methods, the new banner is a simple statement of fact. Light and Life Energy. Whether I see clients in a clinic setting, work in collaboration with other professionals or simply from my home office, we are dealing with your (human) Light and the gift of Life Energy ready for the taking. There may be other opportunities and re-direction coming as well, so I will start at the place of new beginning and take one day at a time.

I look forward to meeting those in my new community and sharing the work with all who care to learn. Effective October 3, 2014, you may reach me at the phone number on the Contact page. Let the blessings continue to flow!

Just this week (and it’s only Wednesday) three people have mentioned their need to manage their weight in a better way. And everyone knows that losing it is not a 1-size-fits-all condition. Here are a few things to remember – they’re in no particular order.

1. The more stress you have, the more likely the weight gain. Get your stress under control. Work, Finances, Relationships – they all have an impact.

2. Reducing travel stress is especially important. Whether it’s for work or pleasure, modern-age travel wears the body out. Jet lag is the stuff of jokes but yes, it is real. Plan time for rest between hops, pack light healthy meals (focus on nuts and dried fruits) and/or snacks to keep the body functioning optimally, and have clean water available at all times (just don’t let those TSA guys get it!). Skip the coffee and wine (sorry ’bout that).

3. Diet is not just about eliminating things. It’s about establishing pH balance that suits your own metabolic needs. It means adding foods that meet your unique requirements from a holistic perspective. Consider an iridology reading to see what your constitutional health is telling you (often a naturopath offers this service as part of their solutions package.)

4. To balance blood sugar in the body, again a metabolic issue, you have to be aware of not only food intake, but about the function of your liver and pancreas and their overall role in total body health. (Part of the overall diet issue #2 above, but important enough to say it out loud again.) You have to read label ingredients and skip the middle aisles of the grocery store. Fresh and raw is a key element to find your center. Eliminate all synthetic sugars.

5. The longer you live, the more your body changes. Hormone balances matter. If you wait until menopause to figure this out, it will be harder to regain balance. (This is true for men as much as women.) Increase your awareness, the sooner the better. Depression, anxiety and all the associated mood swings — chemical imbalances can and need to be corrected in order to feel like “yourself” again.

6. When your body holds toxins, they have to go somewhere. Usually it’s in the fatty tissue. Women with cellulite? The lymphatic systems needs to start releasing (Rebounders help).

7. Nutritional supplementation usually plays a role, yet again it’s a unique proposition. Some things need boosting because aging causes less of them to naturally form in the body. If you haven’t been a fan of fruits and vegetables up until now, you may need other things as well. Two critical areas to consider: Brain health (Omega fatty acids, Amino acids) and Heart health (Mineral balance). Beware – not all brands offer the same level of natural supplementation. A couple rules of thumb that metabolic experts recommend: Organic is better. Liquid gets in the system more readily than a pill. One pill of “everything” may not absorb into the body as easily as several different supplements spaced over the day or week. What you need this month, you may not need next month too. In other words: Do your homework. Don’t get caught up in the hype, or the next best thing. Education is imperative.

8. Get good sound sleep every night. Sleep is a conditions that is restorative to all body functions. If it isn’t happening well, then you could be a candidate to suffer long-term repercussions. This is the stuff of many jokes, very true. However… Especially if you suffer from snoring you could have a condition called sleep apnea; see a sleep specialist and get it under control. It’s long-term effects are much more difficult to “fix” than if you wait until 30 years have passed you by. Possible effects of this condition if ignored: hypertension, water retention, weight gain, the family of disorders associated with COPD and ultimately heart function.

9. Pain. If you’re in pain, nothing else matters. Inflammation exacerbates the issue. The body will function better and respond more positively if we eliminate the root causes of pain. This is #1 to moving forward in your weigh-balance and wellness plan.

Solutions?

Essential Oils – There are so many choices available when using the Young Living oils to boost the body systems onto a wellness track. It requires a little homework to learn about the purpose of each oil and be sure they resonate with you (and if you’re on medications that they’re not counter-productive). To know more about the research and healing capacity of oils, start here and message me your questions: http://lightlifeenergy.younglivingconnect.com/

Exercise – Never under-estimate the power of movement…yet, different strokes for different folks depending on what your personal health needs include. Three powerful energy movers: (1) daily walking to rebalance right/left brain function in addition to burning calories, (2) swimming as a great means of reducing water weight, and (3) dance – in all forms (whatever you can do). There’s also yoga for those with fibromyalgia, as an example; or cardio for those who have no underlying “dis-ease” and can step into faster routines more rapidly. Many find the Asian healing arts beneficial – Tai Qi, Tai Kwan Do, Qi Gong, etc… Whatever “feels” right to you — start there.

Therapeutic massage, hands down, is an amazing modality for assisting the body. Lymphatic drainage, craniosacral balance…there are so many specialists to assist us these days. Used in conjunction with chiropractic care to rebalance the spine and thus the nerval connections throughout the body organs and systems — it’s a Win/Win!

Quantum biofeedback allows one to change behaviors by retraining the body/mind connections to think and act in more holistic ways. It will increase your awareness for risks of stress and help you energetically find your right path.

Reiki offers overall energy balance. Many find weekly or monthly healing sessions useful. However, this healing art can be learned for self-care in a one-day training class, setting the groundwork for systemic change. Gift your children with the training for a life of greater wellbeing as they grow.

Meditation assists us in getting our mind under control, which is an important key to putting all else in order.

We began this blog posting by talking about people’s verbalized need to lose weight. Being consciously aware is a good starting point.

You can envision, too, that this is really only one aspect of the bigger picture. Lower body weight many times over may significantly reduce other health concerns, according to the experts publishing research daily.

More importantly, however, is the overall benefit you receive by setting the groundwork for a lifestyle that helps you regain your sense of oneness with Self, your heart-centered joy to be alive! The body is dynamic, and when working harmonically, its needs will change. This posting hasn’t covered it all, but it’s a beginning. Allow yourself to become aware and flexible to your ever-changing needs. And, ENJOY!

Think about it. Whether it’s the 4th of July, the World Cup or Olympics, a graduation, a birth or a death that’s being ‘celebrated’…

“Every human has four endowments — self-awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom… The power to choose, to respond, to change.” — Stephen R. Covey

In the USA, people celebrate the 4th of July for historical reasons, for pride of country, to remember the freedoms we were gifted when the country was formed. Yet, of what are we really reminding ourselves? Isn’t it really the human spirit we’re talking about?

From whatever country anyone hails, this underlying ‘go-get-em’ behavior that leads a family, a team, a nation and even a world to evolve is simply human nature. This is what we long for and appreciate, for example, when we watch the myriad of videos posted on Facebook. As we view others singing, playing, doing (whatever) — our hearts connect, creating joy in us as well. What is the exponential effect of just one video? (Think about that!)

We are born with an innate sense of goodness and capacity for the extra-ordinary. It’s what we’re made of, how our heart is formed ready to participate in this connectional life matrix that we cohabit. It’s what makes us strong and yet tears our eyes at the same time, as we’ve learned the meaning of compassion.

Beyond the four endowments, each of us is gifted with act-titudes and attitudes — characteristics making us uniquely able to interact and bring our own joy into the world. Employed, these gifts allow our spirit to soar; if left laying low undiscovered, one may never realize or recognize all that is possible or the influence you have to enjoin with others. It takes a sense of courage and risk to explore, yes. It requires creativity to keep re-forming and making anew. Isn’t that worth it!

It’s your life, and you do have the power to choose now that you’re standing here, having been birthed in the flesh. In playing at this Game of Life at every level, consider that human connectionalism — how everything you do in some way will inevitably impact someone else.

Your words have the capacity to influence. Your response to events can motivate others to be a part of the process. By choosing to usher in the changes that allow continued growth and evolution, you participate in the spirit of all living things, something our indigenous world cultures understand even today.

Self-awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination

Forgive me Mr. Kennedy for changing your well-known line a little…’Ask not what your country can do for you’…taking the meaning a titch further….‘but, what you can do for your Spirit and thus, your children, your family, the World.’

Clinica’s Puente Alto office will remain closed while I’m traveling in the USA. Exception:Two local practitioner’s are available — Leticia Cataldo Riveros for Reiki or Carola Baeze Sanchez for Massage therapy by appointment in the Clinica de la Luz office. Please message me for contact information.

Customized service is available to meet your unique needs — combining therapies as appropriate for individual sessions or in a series of applications.

Typical clients are those who:

seek holistic solutions to release effects of stressful life styles.

may have experienced an unusual or acute traumatic event and have plateaued in their recovery process.

have been suffering long-standing chronic pain and want to kick the habit of pain pills and sleepless nights.

have sought traditional medical care and may have been told their situation is a mystery.

are open to combining natural methods to rebalance their energetic system and learn about self-healing options.

Effects of daily work-related or general stress as well as various types of trauma all create pain, sometimes digestive issues, headaches, anxiety and more. Many forms of alternative care are available to assist in relieving stress and balancing oneself on all or any of the 4 levels – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. If you desire any of these side effects of holistic care, message me to schedule your appointment:

Over the past few months a number of people I know have used the phrase “I feel lost.” They are dis-satisfied with their lives on some level and unsure, even unclear, about how to make things better. Giving someone advice in those situations really is not appropriate…who can know the right path for another?

Yet, this quote by H. G. Wells may help us better consider the possibilities.

Because sometimes you have to step outside of the person you’ve been, and remember the person you were meant to be, the person you wanted to be, the person you are.

Upon first reading, this statement may seem a bit confusing…but, is it really? As an example, think about an older child you have known, or maybe choose one of your own now-more-grown children. Remember how they were at the ages of 3 and 4 and 5, truely themselves. Now compare their personality as you remember them to how they are today.

At the core of themselves, what do you think — is it easy to sense that same sweetness or curiosity or budding intellect? Now, allow your thoughts to focus on what you perceive to be the differences between that time and now. As you consider that and, of course, wonder how they “got there” — isn’t it all just about life choices? Lifestyle, family influence, ethnic customs, religious beliefs, career expectations…and so much more?

As humans, we often tend to ignore the inner voices in our heads (doubting ourselves, thinking someone else knows better than we do) while consciously allowing ourselves to be influenced by so many aspects of the life around us. In fact, Life 101,like a college course, can really be very complicated after all. As young people growing into adulthood, unless we were blessed with an extraordinary mentor to guide us, we may not have realized how far we were straying from our true birth-selves until we made all the “mistakes” (as they say). When we finally stop to wonder, ‘what happened?’, it is sometimes so overwhelming we can feel diminished, demolished and maybe even so beaten down that we allow ourselves to take on a sense of hopelessness.

These stepping stones that we choose throughout our life indeed can be stressors that influence our health and our chemical make-up as well as vision and clarity about what is real. The myriad of emotions that swirl within our be-ing as we march through time take a toll upon our sense of overall wellbeing as a result. Thankfully, that’s not the end of the story for most of us. You see, there is this thing called second chances…and we get a pot full of them in this lifetime.

The path is going to look a little different now; we may even feel as if we are frequently doubling back. In fact, there is only forward. Although the look and feel and taste of our continuing journey may seem foreign at first, there is a knowingness underlying it all. And the process will call us out of our “old” selves to look more deeply into our unconscious as we seek that inner child at our core once again.

The good news is, we are not lost. We are still who we were — we are all still there beckoning our true selves to be One with the great I Am. All we have to do is remember. Simple? Probably not. Luckily for all of us, second chances allow us to begin again.